Restoration and regeneration project begins in Leamington Spa

John Cooke (Warwick District Council), Katie Burn (CDP), Ian Harrabin (CDP), Cllr Andrew Day, Mark Brightburn, Philip Clarke, and Martin O’Neill (all from Warwick District Council).

Work has begun to regenerate Leamington’s Old Town, adding to its ‘Silicon Spa’ reputation.

Specialists, Complex Development Projects (CDP) have started work on the restoration of the Grade II listed United Reformed Church. This will be converted into modern office space for creative or digital businesses.

The Spencer Yard development will also feature two further buildings – a nursery will be refurbished and an extension will be added to provide space for smaller businesses.

Developers say sustainability is key and will make the area more pedestrian-friendly. There will be air source heat pumps and solar panels added to the buildings alongside a covered cycle storage area.

Funding has been received from the Future High Streets Fund, as part of the Government’s plan to renew and reshape town centres.

Katie Burn, senior development executive at CDP, said: “Our consultation showed there was a shortage of space for the digital creative sector to expand or locate within the town and it’s a key industry in Leamington with ten per cent of the UK’s gaming sector working in the area.”

In March, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington and Shadow Minister of Education calls for the government to consider increasing the rate of Video Games Corporation Tax Relief but also look to expand the UK Games Development Fund.

He said: “The gaming industry has thrust Leamington onto a global stage and must be protected at all costs.”

The Silicon Spa cluster in Leamington Spa, which stretches to areas of Southam and Warwick, employs over 2000 highly skilled people, equating to over 10% of the UK’s total in games development. 75% of the digital media companies in the area are gaming companies where a more typical share would be 5-10%.

CDP is Warwick District Council’s Regeneration Partner in the overall 10-year Creative Quarter
Initiative and is working up several projects with the Council to galvanise creative activity in Old
Town.

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